Combination carpenter&#39;s tool.



No. 730,568. 7 PATENTED JUNE 9, 1903.

W. POTTER. COMBINATION UARPENTERS' TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17 1992- no MODEL M YEN TO ;%;M By V V ATTORNEYSUNITED STATES Patented June 9, 1903. I

PATENT OFFICE.

' WILLIAM POTTER, on NEW YO N; Y.

COMBINATION CARPENTERS TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersIatent No. 730, 568, dated June 9,1903.

Application filed June 17, 1902. Serial No. 112,046. on model) serve asa plumb, a level, a quadrant, andfor other purposes; and with this andother 'objects in view the invention consists in a combination-tool ofthe class specified and constructed as hereinafter described andclaimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate partsof my improvement are designated by the same reference characters ineach of the views, and in which-- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvedtool, the ends of the body portion thereof being broken away; Fig. 2, aplan view of a part of the body portion with the operative memberremoved; Fig. 3, a' similar view of the operative member detached fromthe body portion of the tool and showing the parts in a differentposition from that shown'in Fig.

1; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section on theline.

4t 4 of Fig. 1.

In the practice of my invention I providean ordinary straight-edgecomprising an oblong bar or block a, which constitutes the body portionof the tool, and in this bar or block are formed two openings 0& and asaid openings being preferably elliptical in form and being respectivelyarranged transversely and longitudinally of said bar or block, and

said bar or block is alsoprovided with two screws a and a which arefirmly secured therein, preferably in the same horizontal line andpreferably at the longitudinal middle of the said block or bar, andheaded pins or similar devices may be substituted for said screws. Ialso provide a main plate I), which is rectangular in form andpreferably a little less in widt-h than the bar or block a and also'preferablyabou t fourandone-half inches long,

and said plate is provided in one end thereof--preferabl y theright-hand end,as shown in the drawin gs with a notch or recess 5 and atthe opposite end with a circular opening 19 having a transverse slot orextension I)", which extends toward the upper or outer edge of the toolwhen the tool is held with the plate b facing the operator.

At the lower right-hand corner of the plate b is mounted a regulatorconsisting of a small metal plate 0, preferably rectangular in form andprovided with a diagonal slot 0 through which is passed a headed pin,rivet, or screw 0 which is firmly fixed in the pl'ateb and the head ofwhich bears on the plate a, so as to firmly hold it in any position inwhich it may be placed, and by striking the plate 0 on the outer orright-handend it may be moved longitudinally of the plate I and towardthe adjacent edge of the said plate, and by striking said plate 0 on theopposite end itmay be moved toward the longitudinal center of the plateI) and toward the adjacent end of the said plate.

With the upper left-hand corner of the plate I) is connected anotherregulator, consisting of a small plate (1, which is also preferablyrectangular in form and provided with a diagonally-arranged slot at",through which passes aheaded pin, rivet, or screw (1 which is firmlysecured in the plate b and which will hold the plate d at any desiredadjustment, and by moving said plate 01 transversely and toward theopposite longitudinal edge of the plate I) the said plate d will also bemoved toward the adjacent end of the plate 1'), and by moving the plated toward the opposite longitudinal edge of the plate I) the said plateat will also be moved toward the adjacent end lever g, having an angularextension g provided with a finger g, which projects in the samedirection as the lock-lever, and in connecting the plate b with the baror block a the pin, rivet, or screw a is slipped in the notch or recess5 and the opposite end of the plate I) is placed against the block orbar a in such a manner that the head of the pin, rivet, or screw 01,passes through the opening b and said end of plate 11 is movedtransversely of the block or bar at until the said pin, screw, or riveta enters the slot b, when the lever g'is turned into the position shownin Fig. 1, in which operation the finger or projection q passes beneaththe head of said pin or screw and securely locks the plate to the blockor bar a, and by adjusting the position of the lock-plate e the extentto which the pin or screw a will enter the slot 17 may be regulated, andthe position of the plate I) on the block or bar Ct may thus be exactlyadjusted, it being understood that the pin or screw a serves as a pivoton which the plate I) may be turned. I also provide an ordinaryspirit-level consist-ing'of a tube It, having a base-flange 7L2, bymeans of which it is secured to the plate I) at 71 by means of a rivetor screw secured in said plate, and said tube It is provided in one sidewith a longitudinal opening 77. in the usual manner, and placed in thetube h is a glass tube 71., which is partially filled with a liquid inthe usual manner, and the tube It is adapted to be held in a horizontalposition, as shown in Fig. 1, in which position the device will serve asan ordinary level, or said tube maybe turned into a transverse position,as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which position the device willserve as an ordinary plumb. I also provide a lock-arm 2', which ispivoted to the plate I) at 1' and this arm is provided with alongitudinal recess i at its free end and with a shoulder 13, whichserves to hold the tube h in the horizontal position, as shown in fulllines in Fig. 1, and when the two plates are in a transverse position,as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the arm 1' may also be turned intothe position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and thus serve to holdsaid tube in said position. The arm 2' is also provided at itspivot-point with a lock-shaped portion 71 and the tube h and arm 2' maybe turned into the position shown in Fig. 3 or diagonally of the plateZ), and said arm is provided with a curved flange 2', which in thisposition of the parts covers the opening it in the tube 71., and thusprotects the glass tube h The tube h and the fiange 71. thereof are heldin close frictional contact with the plate y b, and said plate is alsoprovided with raised knobs 7c and and the flange-plate 7L2 of the tube71 is provided in its under side with a recess 70 adapted to receivesaid knobs or projections, and by this means the tube It may also beheld in either of its operative positions. The plateb is also providedwith holes or openings?) and 19 which correspond with.

the holes or openings a and a in the block or bar a and are adapted toregister therewith, and these holes or openings permit light to passthrough said block or bar and said plate I) and enable the operation ofthe spiritlevel to be more clearly seen. i

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the plates or otherdevices a and d are moved longitudinally and transversely of the plateI), and by means of' these devices the horizontal position of thespirit-level and the transverse position thereof may be exactly adjustedat all times or whenever necessary. v

In order to adapt the device to serve as a quadrant, I provide thebase-flange 71 of the tube 72 with a pointer m, which operates inconnection with a quadrant-scale m formed on the plate I), and thescale-marks of which represent degrees of a circle.

It will be apparent that the plate I) and its attachment constitute thetool proper and the bar or block a the support thereof; but some form ofa straight-edge must be employed,and any suitable device of this classin connection with which the plate I) and its attachments may beemployed will serve the desired purpose.

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction hereinshown and described, and I reserve the right to make all suchalterations therein and modifications thereof as fairly come within thescope of said invention.

Having fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A combination level, plumb and quadrant involving a straight-edge,and a plate detachably connected therewith, said straightedge beingprovided at two different longitudinal points with headed, screws orpins and said plate being provided at one end with a notch or recessadapted to receive one of said pins or screws, and at the opposite endwith an opening adapted to receive the head of the other pin or screw,said opening being provided with a slot arranged transversely of saidplate, an adjustable locking device se cured to said plate at the end ofsaid slot, a locking-lever pivoted to said plate on the side of saidopening opposite said locking device, a spirit-level tube provided witha base-flange pivoted to said plate near one corner thereof and adaptedto turn into a transverse or horizontal position, and means for holdingsaid tube in either position, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a tool of the class described, a plate provided near one cornerwith a pivoted spirit-level tube and at the corners adjacent, saidfirst-named corner with adjusting devices movable longitudinally andtransversely of said plate, and means for locking said plate to astraight-edge, said plate being IIO also provided with a quadrant-scale,said spirit-level tube with a pointer adapted to operate in connectionwith said scale.

3. In atool of the class described, a plate adapted to be connected witha straight-edge, a spirit-level tube pivoted to said plate near onecorner thereof, means for holding said tube both in a horizontal and atransverse position, a locking-arm pivoted tosaid plate and adapted tohold the said tube in a diagonal position and to protect or cover theviewopening therein, said arm being also adapted to aid in holding saidtube both in a horizontal and a transverse position, said plate beingalso provided with a quad rant-scale, and saidtube witha pointer,adapted to operate in connection therewith, substantially as shown anddescribed. 7

4. In a tool of the class described, a plate provided at one end with anotch or recess 12' and at the opposite end with an opening 6 having atransverse slot b, a locking-plate 2 connected with said plate at oneside of the opening b, a locking-lever g connected with said plate onthe opposite side of said opening, adjusting devices 0 and 61 connectedwith said plate and a spirit-level tube 71 pivoted to said plate at hsubstantiallyflas shown and described.

5. A combination level, plumb and quadrant comprising a plate adapted tobe secured to a straight-edge, a spirit-level tube pivoted to said platenear one corner thereof and adapted to turn thereon, and means forholding said tube in either a horizontalor a transverse position, saidplate being also provided with a quadrant-scale and said tube with apointer which operates in connection therewith, and said plate beingalso provided near its diagonally opposite corners with adjustingdevices movable longitudinally and transversely.

6. In a tool of the class described, a plate adapted to be connectedwith a straight-edge, a spirit-level tube pivoted to said plate near onecorner thereof, and an arm pivoted to said plate and adapted to holdsaid tube in a diagonal position and to lock said tube in a horizontalposition, and to protect or cover the view-opening therein,substantially as shown and described.

7. In a tool of the class'described, a plate adapted to be connectedwith a straight-edge, a spirit-level tube pivoted to said plate near onecorner thereof, and an arm pivoted to said plate and adapted to holdsaid tube in a diagonal position and to lock said tube in a horizontalposition and to protect or cover the view-opening therein, said armbeing also adapted to aid in holding said tube both in a horizontal andtransverse position, substantially as shown and described.

8. The combination with straight-edge, of an attachment detachablyconnected with one side thereof and provided an ordinary with aspirit-level tube, and means whereby the spirit-level tube may be heldtransversely, horizontally or diagonally of the straightedge, and aconnection between the attach- Inent-and the straight-edge includingheaded devices permanently secured to the side of the straight-edge andadapted to enter-openings formed in the attachment, substantially asshown and described.

9. The combination with an ordinary straight-edge, of an attachmentdetachably connected with one side thereof and provided and meanswhereby the spirit-level tube may be held transversely or horizontallyof the straight-edge, and the connection between the attachment and thestraight-edge including headed devices permanently connected with theside of thestraight-edge and adapted to enter openings formed in theattachment, said attachment being removable without removing saiddevices, substantially as shown and described.

10. The combination with a straight-edge of a spirit-level attachmentcomprising a plate adapted to be detachably connected with the side ofthe straight-edge and provided with a spirit-level tube which is pivotedthereto and adapted to be held in'a transverse or horizontal position,said plate being provided in the edge portions thereof with openings,and said straight-edge with headed devices adapted to enter saidopenings, said headed devices being rigidly secured to the straight-edgeand the attachment being detachable from the straight-edge withoutdetaching said devices, substantially as shown and described.

11. A straight-edge attachment comprising a plate adapted to bedetachably connected with the side of the straight-edge and providedwith a spirit-level tube pivoted at one end thereto, said attachmentbeing also provided with a pivoted arm adapted to hold said tube in adiagonal position and having a shield adapted to cover and protect theopening in said tube, substantially as shown and described.

12. An attachment fora straight-edge,comprising a plate having openingsin the edge portions thereof whereby the attachment may be connectedwith the side of the straight edge, said straight-edge being providedwith headed devices adapted to enter said openings, said plate beingalso provided with a spirit-level tube, and an arm pivoted to theattachment and provided with a shield adapted in one position of thespirit-level tube to cover the opening therein, substantially as shownand described.

13. The combination with an ordinary straight-edge, of an attachmentdetachably connected with one side thereof and provided with aspirit-level tube, and means whereby the spirit-level tube may be heldtransversely,

horizontally or diagonally of the straightwith a spirit-level tubeconnected therewith IIO it v 'i edge, and the connection between theattachmy invention I have signed my name, in pres ment and thestraightedge including headed ence of the subscribing, witnesses, this14th devices permanently secured to the side of day of June, 1902.

the straight-edge, and means whereby said de- 7 WILLIAM POTTER. vicesare enabled to engage the said attach- Vitnesses:

inent, substantially as shown and described. ARTHUR POTTER,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as T. U. STEWART.

